Best Campgrounds near Spencerville, IN

Spencerville, Indiana features several camping options within reasonable driving distance, from rustic tent sites to fully developed RV parks. Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground, located about 20 miles northeast near Albion, serves as one of the primary established campgrounds with sites for tents, RVs, cabins, and glamping. Other notable options include Johnny Appleseed Campground in Fort Wayne and Pokagon State Park Campground near Angola, which offers year-round access. The area contains a mix of state park facilities, private campgrounds, and at least one dispersed camping area for those seeking more primitive experiences.

Seasonal considerations shape the camping experience in northeast Indiana, with many campgrounds operating on limited schedules. Several facilities, including Johnny Appleseed Campground, operate only from April through October, while state parks like Chain O' Lakes and Pokagon remain open year-round. Winter camping options become more limited but still exist, particularly at the state parks. Campsite reservations are generally required for established campgrounds, especially during summer weekends and holidays when facilities reach capacity. Most developed campgrounds provide electric hookups, with water access points distributed throughout. Cell phone coverage is generally reliable across the region. A review noted that "Chain is perfect for kayaking and canoeing with 9 connected lakes and 11 total. A couple lakes are perfect for boat fishing as long as you have an electric motor only."

Water access serves as a defining feature for many campgrounds in the Spencerville area. Chain O' Lakes State Park provides particularly good access to multiple connected lakes with rental options for canoes and kayaks. Campers frequently mention the fishing opportunities, with several campgrounds featuring fish cleaning stations. Site privacy varies considerably between campgrounds and specific site locations. Several visitors noted that while some campgrounds have spacious, shaded sites, others place campsites relatively close together. Restroom and shower facilities receive mixed reviews, with some campgrounds maintaining excellent facilities while others feature more basic amenities. Campground stores and amenities tend to be well-stocked, particularly at the state parks, with one review mentioning that "The General Store is one of the most impressively well stocked I have ever seen. Equipment, toys, tools, food souvenirs, you name it."

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Best Camping Sites Near Spencerville, Indiana (101)

    1. Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground

    52 Reviews
    Albion, IN
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (260) 636-2654

    $12 - $80 / night

    "Met up with 18 other skoolies our first Indiana meet. Met great people had a fantastic time. Great park kids swam, showers are clean. Electric at sites but water isn’t but very close by."

    "Chain is perfect for kayaking and canoeing with 9 connected lakes and 11 total. A couple lakes are perfect for boat fishing as long as you have an electric motor only."

    2. Johnny Appleseed Campground

    15 Reviews
    Fort Wayne, IN
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (260) 427-6720

    "Easy access to downtown, the Coliseum, IPFW, and shopping. The River Greenway path cuts right through the park, and there is also a boat launch for the river."

    "For $24, we got a day of drive in spot with electrical + water hook-ups and wifi. The campground is well-maintained and very clean."

    3. Indian Springs Campground

    9 Reviews
    Garrett, IN
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (260) 357-5572

    $20 - $89 / night

    4. Pokagon State Park Campground

    48 Reviews
    Angola, IN
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (260) 833-2012

    $16 - $480 / night

    "There's 2 dump stations located in loops 3 & 4. IN THE CAMPGROUND! NEXT TO CAMPSITES!!!!

     "

    "Pokagon (po KAY gun) has everything from a toboggan run to a lodge to lakes all around...you cannot be bored here. Open year round (limited campgrounds and services in winter)."

    5. chainolakes

    2 Reviews
    Leo, IN
    10 miles

    "Even though we were close in proximity to eachother, everyone remained respectful of the noise and helped eachother as much as we could. Good little camping trip community. Had a great experience"

    6. Angola/Hogback Lake KOA Holiday

    11 Reviews
    Angola, IN
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (260) 665-5353

    "This campground also sits on the shores of Hogback Lake which is an all sports lake."

    "There is a dog park for walking the dog but with so much driveway I just walk the dog around the park. They have several dog bag stations around the park to make clean up easy."

    7. Kimpels Hickory Acres

    1 Review
    Montpelier, OH
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 658-2267

    "I camped in a tent next to the cabin that my sister rented so I'm not sure about the tent sites that are available."

    8. Bixler Lake Park & Campground

    2 Reviews
    Kendallville, IN
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (260) 347-1064

    $25 - $60 / night

    "Been here nearly a month and definitely will be back."

    9. Captain Carl's Buck Lake Ranch

    1 Review
    Hamilton, IN
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (260) 665-6699

    "A small beach at the lake is a great place to cool off."

    10. Fireside Resort RV Park

    Be the first to review!
    Garrett, IN
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (260) 925-6747

    $25 - $38 / night

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Recent Reviews near Spencerville, IN

356 Reviews of 101 Spencerville Campgrounds


  • Matthew H.
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Art's Country Park

    Arts country Park

    Quiet,kid friendly, fur babies friendly (dogs),nice place, friendly and accommodating staff, fishing and swimming,hot showers and lots of activities in summer 👍

  • d
    Aug. 19, 2025

    River Trail Campground II

    Just So-SO

    We stayed 3 nights. Our site was a dirt pads. There are mostly full-time residents. There is the smell of a massive Chicken coup at our site. THERE ARE A TON OF FLIES!!!!! We had flies for days!. We kill 3 and 5 more would pop-up in our trailer. I was so happy to leave this fly infested site. 

    It's very hard for me to give them less than 5 stairs because, everyone was so nice. We had them filled up our propane tanks and they actually brought them to us and hooked them up while we were gone. Someone even brought us wood planks for stabilizing our trailer. However, truth be told…. our spot was horrible-right next to the laundry room in direct sun and it stunk! The women's shower was gross too. ( I ended up, not using their shower room.)

    We never used their pool.

  • Shawna T.
    Aug. 18, 2025

    chainolakes

    Camp out

    I loved how neighborly and extremely kind our camping neighbors were. Even though we were close in proximity to eachother, everyone remained respectful of the noise and helped eachother as much as we could. Good little camping trip community. Had a great experience

  • L
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Johnny Appleseed Campground

    Great location, but no privacy

    The campground is almost in the middle of Fort Wayne. Most of the sites are very close and no vegetation to allow any privacy. On the positive side, the bathrooms were very nice and clean. The staff was also very helpful.

  • SkipperAllen C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Shipshewana Campground South Park

    Nice stay

    Bathrooms clean Campground well maintained. Showers clean. Push button operation not temperature control little on the cold side for me.

  • Paula  S.
    Aug. 11, 2025

    Blue Water Campground

    Our stay at bluewater

    The staff is extremely friendly, and try to accomadate with anything you could need. The campesites are fairly large with gravel pads. They offer water and electric hook-up for 30&50 amps. There is not a sewer hook up but they do offer a weekly pump out for a small fee and a dump station on the way out. The pool, ponds, playground and pavillion are all within walking distance from almost any site.

  • Allie H.
    Aug. 3, 2025

    Huggy Bear Campground

    Overall a great experience

    Clean! Tons to do especially for kids, pet friendly, definitely get rowdy on the weekends- book ahead to snag the best sites. We stayed 5 days and it was awesome. Mini golf, fishing, 3 pools, inflatable in the water, they have a whole schedule for the weekends here. It’s great!

  • Ray L.
    Jul. 27, 2025

    Bixler Lake Park & Campground

    Quiet.

    This is by far the place to just relax. It does have its moments..Holidays and special events. Even then campers here live by the lights out code. Been here nearly a month and definitely will be back.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 21, 2025

    Harrison Lake State Park Campground

    Nice place close to i90

    A lake to cool off in that’s not too far from the south loop sites. Modern toilets and showers. Open space camping on grass with strip of woods between sites and lake. Road on the other side that could use more trees and shrubs to block view and some noise. We prefer more woods like camping and more trails by the campsites so only four stars.


Guide to Spencerville

Camping near Spencerville, Indiana, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. From serene lakes to family-friendly activities, there’s something for everyone in this beautiful region.

What to do:

  • Kayaking and Canoeing: Enjoy paddling on the lakes. One visitor mentioned, "Kayaking the 13 lakes can easily last from morning to sundown" at Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground.
  • Hiking: Explore the trails at Pokagon State Park Campground. A reviewer noted, "They have good hiking trails, nice refreshing waters, good food options at certain places."
  • Family Activities: Check out Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Barton Lake for a water park and craft barn. One family said, "My son had a blast and said this was the best campground he has ever been to."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate cleanliness. A visitor at Johnny Appleseed Campground said, "Restrooms are very clean and comfortable."
  • Spacious Sites: Many enjoy the roomy campsites. One happy camper at Angola/Hogback Lake KOA Holiday remarked, "The site was perfect with everything we would need already there."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often mention the helpfulness of the staff. A reviewer at Gordons Campground shared, "The staff in the office are super nice and the groundskeeper is super funny and a lot of help."

What you should know:

  • Busy Weekends: Expect crowds during peak times. A visitor at Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground warned, "A very hard campsite to navigate and a busy weekend forget about dumping lol you're gonna be there a while."
  • Limited Cell Service: Some areas have poor reception. A camper at Pokagon State Park Campground noted, "The DNR trail maps are inaccurate but well worth your time, so research your trails well or you'll get a bit lost."
  • Primitive Camping Challenges: If you choose primitive sites, be prepared for some discomfort. One family at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Barton Lake mentioned, "We got to the site and we had booked primitive camping... we heard blaring 16 wheelers for hours on end."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Plan for Activities: Look for campgrounds with kid-friendly amenities. A parent at Gordons Campground said, "There is always something going on during those times."
  • Safety First: Keep an eye on young children, especially near fire pits. A reviewer at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Barton Lake expressed concerns about their kids' safety near the fire ring.
  • Pack Snacks: Having food on hand can save you from long trips to the camp store. A camper at Johnny Appleseed Campground appreciated the "friendly camp hosts" and the convenience of nearby amenities.

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A visitor at Angola/Hogback Lake KOA Holiday mentioned, "The only drawback is the traffic noise if you’re staying in any of the sites near the front of the park."
  • Reserve Early: Popular spots fill up fast, especially during summer. A camper at Camp Timber Lake advised, "We will return!"
  • Bring Extra Supplies: Some campgrounds may not have everything you need. A reviewer at Indian Springs Campground noted, "The campground was gated and it took quite a while for staff to let us in."

Camping near Spencerville, Indiana, has its ups and downs, but with the right preparation, you can enjoy a great outdoor experience!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Spencerville, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, Spencerville, IN offers a wide range of camping options, with 101 campgrounds and RV parks near Spencerville, IN and 3 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Spencerville, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Spencerville, IN is Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 52 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Spencerville, IN?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Spencerville, IN.